The term 'World Music' was thought up on 29th June 1987 by a group of movers & shakers behind all forms of international music in the UK.

They met in an Islington bar, The Empress of Russia, for what was described as an 'International Pop Label Meeting' to try and work out how best to group their music discoveries. The aim was a term that would allow curious listeners to walk into high street music shops and find what they were looking for.

Twenty-one years on and millions of record sales later the Awards for World Music presents the chance to reflect on their success.

More specifically, the term is currently used to classify the many genres of non-Western music which were previously described as "folk music" or "ethnic music". However, "world music" does not have to mean traditional folk music, it may refer to the indigenous classical forms of various regions of the world, and to modern, cutting edge pop music styles as well.

Succinctly, it can be described as "local music from out there", or "someone else's local music".

Back in 2001 fRoots magazine's editor Ian Anderson, who had already been running a critics’ album poll in the magazine for some years came up with the idea of the Awards for World Music. He says "It had struck me for a while, that World Music was one of the few markets that didn't have an industry awards. When I then felt the positive effects the Radio 2 Folk Awards had had on the folk scene, a light bulb switched on. I thought, why not propose a World Music Award to Radio 3?'”

After several weeks of refining an initial proposal in consultation with other authorities of the World Music scene, he sent the draft to the head of Radio 3, Roger Wright, who received it with enthusiasm.

Besides Ian Anderson, a group of like-minded people - including Songlines editor Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham of the Rough Guides series, the organisers of the World Music trade fair WOMEX and event producers Serious - were brought in to advise on the event and have remained the Awards partners ever since.

The Awards voting college counts over 3000 industry experts who provide, by ballot, an initial list of nominees in each of the agreed categories. Radio 3’s relationship with these partners is non-commercial..

Additionally, World Service colleagues are invited to suggest a further, single nominee in each of the geographical categories to ensure the richness and spread of the nominations.The nominees put up by World Service this year were: Maria Rita (Americas), Simphiwe Dana (Africa), Nass El Ghiwane (Mid East/N Africa), Sa Dingding (Asia/Pacific).

Who are this year's nominees?For a full list of this year's nominated artists visit the Nominees page. Each artist also has a dedicated webpage with a full profile, (specially written for this site), you can also listen to a track from their nominated album and both read other people's comments and post your own.

How do they win?The shortlisted nominations are voted on by a jury of 12 persons to determine the winners. These jury members are Awards partners and other experts, appointed and presided over by the BBC. (The BBC does not vote in this process). The jury is refreshed every year, with new members being enlisted to bring new perspectives. The Chair is also changed from time to time to ensure fair play and impartiality.

The winners were announced at a special event at London's Dingwalls club in Camden on 10th April, broadcast the following day as Performance on 3

There is also a special award called the Worldshaker Award which is given to a person or persons who have make a particular contribution to the genre of World Music, this year the winner was Francis Falceto.

Watch online - watch all this year's nominee films together with an introduction to the awards and a highlights film.

This year for the first time the award winners will perform in a special World Music Celebration concert at the Proms. The featured artists are Mayra Andrade (Newcomer), Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara (Culture Crossing), Bassekou Kouyate (Africa and Album of the Year), Sa Dingding (Asia/Pacific) and Son de la Frontera (Europe).

BBC links

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